Mystery after oily birds found in Peel

An Island charity says it hopes this will be the year authorities find the source of oil contaminating birds in the west of the Island.

Manx Wild Bird Aid posted photos to Facebook of a herring gull covered in fish oil, saying it's the 13th oiled bird reported in the last three weeks.

The organisation says the problem has been affecting birds near the Food Park on Mill Road in Peel for some years but the source of the oil has never been found.

In its post is says the ongoing problem makes a mockery of the Island's biosphere status and it hopes authorities can get to the bottom of the contamination this year.